[Tsuwabuki]

As has been said by others, it's much easier to compose a list of what I don't like, because I like everything else.

I know Nyororin has also said this, but at this point, Japan is the familiar. Patriotic American? Yes, I am. However, I'm often surprised when I visit the US, how often I say, "that's odd" or "I remember doing that, but I don't do it now." I have now lived in the same place in Japan longer than I've lived anywhere else as an adult. And when I did live in the US, my positions were not as secure, my finances not as steady.

What do I like most about Japan?

1. Consistency. I am gainfully employed. I am settled. I have lived in the same apartment for two and half years, and I have things set up how I want, I have real furniture, I have a nice entertainment system, etc. Without this settling, Japan would be a far less enjoyable place.

2. My students. Everything I thought I would love about Japan, I do love about Japan because my students make the cultural events I do with them so much fun, and so like what I imagined when I was like so many people on JF: a teenaged fan of Japanese culture who thought he wanted to move to Japan. Without my students, Japan would be a far less interesting place.

3. Taiyaki. I love me some red bean paste inside waffles shaped like fish.

4. Kimagure Orange Road fandom. I have a significantly easier time finding KOR merchandise, have visited certain places that appear in the series (definitely a dream of mine when I was high school), and was able to meet the series character designer in Tokyo. If you're a major fan of a Japanese anime or manga, and I mean serious (my KOR collection is the largest in the world), you really have to be in Japan. The Japanese take their hobbies seriously, as should you if you come here! Be prepared for it.

5. School lunches. Soooooo much better than the American equivalents.